Grow Shamrocks Indoors

You don’t need a green thumb to grow shamrocks indoors. This plant associated with St. Patrick’s Day is really easy to grow.

Shamrocks are a member of the oxalis (wood sorrel) family. Most of these grow from small bulbs and the distinguishing characteristic is the three rounded or triangular-shaped leaves at the end of delicate stems. Most oxalis plants fold up their leaves at night, hugging them tight to the stems until daylight “wakes them up” again.

The familiar St. Patrick’s Day variety (Oxalis acetosella) is available at florist shops and many grocery stores this time of year. It has tiny, dark green, triangular leaves and grows to a height of about six inches. This variety actually hails from Europe, Iceland, and Asia and is not the official Irish shamrock. The official Irish shamrock is Trifolium dubium, a yellow-flowered clover or trefoil. That clover is difficult to grow indoors, so nurseries and florists sell Oxalis plants instead.

If you are wondering how the shamrock became part of Irish history, there are many explanations. The most popular is that St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, once plucked a shamrock from the grass at his feet to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to his congregation. St. Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated on the anniversary of his death, also heralds the arrival of spring. The shamrock was adopted as a symbol of both this patron saint and the “season of rebirth.”

So how do you grow shamrocks?

Shamrocks like cool air, moist soil (except in their dormant period), and bright light. They do not have an extensive root system, so unlike many plants, actually prefer to be crowded in a pot. However, if the plant dries out too quickly, you may need to move it into a larger pot. Fertilize every two to three weeks while the plant is actively growing or flowering, using regular houseplant fertilizer. For application rate, follow directions on the container.

Be aware that no matter how much care you give this plant, at times it will look sick and lose its leaves. This dormant period, which occurs two or three times a year, is part of the growing process common to all plants grown from bulbs.

During dormancy, stop watering. Let the leaves die back naturally, then remove dead, brown leaves. Place the plant in a cool, dark place while it goes through its dormancy period. Plants generally “sleep” for about three months. New green shoots signal that the plant is waking up and needs to be moved back into the light.

To divide your shamrocks, wait until the bulbs reach the end of a dormant cycle. Take them out of the pot, and remove small side bulbs. Then replant, just under the surface, in a mix of potting soil and sand. Place in a non-south facing window. Water, keeping the surface just moist to the touch, until plants become established.

Because these plants go dormant, shamrocks are not suitable for growing with other houseplants in mixed pots or planters.

Other Oxalis varieties have similar growth requirements though many go through a shorter, or no, dormancy period. Depending on the variety, the plant may have yellow, white, pink, purple, or red flowers and grow as tall as 10 inches. Leaf color ranges from dark green to deep red.